Gas Turbine Intake Swirl Housing for Annular Flow Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transitioning hot exhaust gas flow from non-annular configurations to an annular configuration in gas turbines is challenging, particularly in terms of aerodynamic losses, weight, and manufacturing costs, while maintaining efficiency and uniformity.
Innovation Solution
A gas turbine intake system with a swirl housing that receives exhaust gases tangentially, recirculates them, and redirects their velocity through a series of guide paths to produce an annular, axially oriented flow, using vanes with a consistent geometry to minimize aerodynamic losses and manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional exhaust gas transition system is used, then the structure is simple, but aerodynamic losses increase and flow uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The intake system is divided into distinct functional segments: a swirl path section for generating rotational flow, and an annular path section for distributing flow uniformly. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall aerodynamic losses while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions the exhaust flow from a simple linear path to a three-dimensional swirl path that rotates around the central axis before entering the annular section. This dimensional transformation enables the flow to gain rotational momentum and distribute more uniformly across the annular passage, significantly reducing aerodynamic losses.
2Manufacturing precision
If a complex transition system is used, then flow uniformity improves, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the intake into standardized swirl and annular sections with consistent cross-sectional dimensions, the design achieves flow uniformity through modular repetition rather than complex custom shaping. This segmentation enables precise manufacturing of each module using standard procedures, then assembling them to achieve the desired flow distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves flow uniformity by carefully controlling geometric parameters such as the swirl path radius, annular passage width, and vane angles. By optimizing these parameters within reasonable ranges, the design attains high flow uniformity while maintaining manufacturability through conventional fabrication methods.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the swirl path is made larger, then flow distribution improves, but the device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the linear size of the intake, the design utilizes the third dimension by creating a swirl path that rotates around the central axis. This allows the flow to distribute uniformly across the annular section without requiring a larger overall footprint, thereby avoiding additional weight while achieving improved flow distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The swirl path is nested within the annular passage, with the rotational flow path contained within the broader annular structure. This nested arrangement maximizes the use of available space, achieving uniform flow distribution without increasing the external dimensions or weight of the intake system.
4Ease of operation
If multiple vanes are added to the swirl path, then flow control improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vanes are segmented and positioned specifically at the transition zone between the swirl path and annular path, rather than distributing them throughout the entire intake. This targeted segmentation provides effective flow control at the critical transition point while minimizing the overall number of vanes and reducing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly distributing vanes throughout the intake system, the design applies vanes locally at the specific location where flow control is most needed—the transition from swirl to annular path. This local quality approach provides precise flow control where required while avoiding unnecessary complexity in other regions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively transitions exhaust gases from a non-annular to an annular configuration with reduced aerodynamic losses and uniform pressure distribution, enhancing the efficiency and manufacturability of the gas turbine intake.
Implementation Method 1
a swirl housing having an inlet portion fluidly connecting the exhaust conduit, an annular outlet fluidly connecting the annular gas path, a swirl path extending circumferentially around the central axis from the inlet portion to a circumferential outlet
Implementation Method 2
vanes located in the swirl housing, the vanes circumferentially interspaced from one another relative the central axis... each vane having a twisted and flat body with a length extending from a leading end to a trailing end, the leading end being oriented mainly circumferentially and axially at the swirl path, the trailing end being oriented mainly axially and radially at the annular outlet
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A gas turbine intake has a swirl housing having an inlet portion (58) fluidly connecting an exhaust conduit (22), an annular outlet (52) defined around a central axis and fluidly connecting a turbine gas path (34), a swirl path (44) extending circumferentially around the central axis from the inlet portion (58) to a circumferential outlet (96), the circumferential outlet (96) fluidly connected back into the inlet portion (58), and vanes (56) located in the swirl housing, the vanes (56) circumferentially interspaced from one another relative the central axis and located radially inwardly from the swirl path (44) relative the central axis, the swirl path (44) being free of the vanes.